Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Faker, The Taker or The Maker

If you go to church do you ever take a few minutes to look around on Sunday morning? Do you ever look at people you do not know and wonder who they are and what their story or situation is? Why are they there? What are they looking for? What do they do outside the walls of the church? I believe we can put "church people" into one of three categories. - Fakers, Takers or Makers. Let me explain and see if you can determine into which category you might fit.

The Faker: The faker is someone who shows up because they think it makes them look good. Maybe they think that going to church will get them in good with God. Maybe he will be impressed with their church attendance. Maybe they are looking for complements on their new suit, new dress or new hairdo. Maybe they have found church to be a place where they can put on a mask and make people believe they are someone they are not. The faker usually appears one way in church but completely different outside the walls of the church. The faker might even be your pastor!

Matthew23: 25-28 - 25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

The Taker: The taker is someone who shows up asking what's in this for me? What can I get out of this meeting? Are there some potential customers for my business? Are there some potential voters for my upcoming campaign? Maybe I can meet my future mate at church. Maybe someone in the church will offer me a job. Maybe I can serve as an elder or deacon and be publicly recognized for my service and position of authority. Many times the taker wants to be the center of attention, whether they have a loud and gregarious personality or a woe is me personality. Either way they want something.

Acts 8: 18-23 - 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

The Maker: The maker is someone who shows up looking for someone to pour into. They truly understand what we as Christians are called to do. Go and make disciples. The maker is someone who looks at the church as a tremendous investment opportunity. The maker shows up looking for a way to get plugged in, a way to get involved with the sole purpose of carrying out the great commission. Many times you do not know who the maker is because they realize it is not all about them. They are, many times, behind the scenes people realizing that their greatest recognition will come from God and not man.

Matthew 28: 18-20 - 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 6: 6 - But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

II Timothy 2: 1, 2 - 1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

As you look around on Sunday mornings trying to figure out who some of these people around you are make sure you do a self-check and see who you are; The Faker, The Taker or The Maker?